Former Chicago Bear Urges Romeoville Students to Make Good Choices

Life is all about making good choices.

That’s what motivational speaker Ray McElroy told Lukancic Middle School students Fridayafternoon.

“It’s up to nobody but you. Not your parents. Not your friends,” the former Chicago Bear defensive back said.

McElroy talked about the importance of having a vision in life.

“You are never too young to be thinking about your future. Your vision today will dictate where you’ll be tomorrow,” the Eastern Illinois University graduate said. “And education needs to be right in the center of your vision. A lot of people go to college. We don’t want you to just go to college. We want you to get your degree.

“When you don’t know where you’re going in life, any road looks good to you,” he added. “Nine times out of ten the poor choices you make end in a dead end. And the problem is many times you can’t turn back.”

One of those dead ends, said the Indianapolis Colts draftee, is alcohol abuse. He stunned students with nationwide statistics that show one in every four middle school students drink alcohol, pointing out that alcohol is the “number one misused drug” in the United States among 14-to-24-year-olds.

“Young people think they can do drugs and they don’t have to worry about school,” the former track star said. “But the more poor choices you make, the slower you run. Eventually you don’t even finish the race.”

To students who have started down that “dead end,” he advised “It’s not too late. Right now this moment you have an opportunity to change your situation.”

To all students, his advice was simple.

“You aren’t born a winner or a loser. You’re born a chooser. Life is a about making choices,” he said. “The good news is these choices are in your hands. Your life and your future are worth it.”

McElroy’s appearance was sponsored by Citgo’s Lemont Refinery and Seneca Petroleum.